Satellite Images Confirm Smoke Near Saudi Aramco Facility After Houthi Attacks

Satellite imagery captured by Misbar’s team at Al-Araby TV revealed smoke near an Aramco oil processing facility in the Khurais area east of Riyadh, following claims by the Houthis of attacks on the company’s facilities. The smoke was first observed on Sunday, October 4, and remained visible the following day, though its direction and extent varied. Satellite images from earlier dates, including October 3, showed no similar smoke plumes, confirming the anomaly.

The smoke appeared amid escalating tensions, with the Houthis claiming responsibility for attacks on Aramco facilities in Khurais and Riyadh using ballistic missiles and drones. The group stated that the attacks were in response to 50 Saudi-led airstrikes and missile attacks against Yemeni provinces. However, Turki Al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, dismissed the claims of an attack in Riyadh as misleading, suggesting the Houthis were attempting to divert attention from their losses in Yemen.

Reports from energy sector sources indicated that a pumping station on the East-West pipeline in Khurais had been targeted, causing significant damage and halting pumping operations. However, Reuters cited another source stating that oil flows through the pipeline had not been disrupted. The East-West pipeline, which transports crude oil from eastern Saudi Arabia to Yanbu on the Red Sea, had previously been targeted in September, leading to injuries and a precautionary shutdown.

The recent developments come as part of a broader escalation in attacks and counterattacks between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. The Saudi-led coalition announced that 100 fighter jets participated in the “Dawn of Yemen” operation, destroying 324 high-value targets and providing air support to government forces. The coalition also linked its operations to protecting maritime navigation and supporting the Yemeni government’s efforts to restore state institutions and take control of Sanaa.